Hot new helicopter/rotorcraft news

[Lawman]

Yes. I know a few guys back in the 2000’s who wanted to shift to something bigger and fly the -53’s (and now one who went from the CH-47 to V-22’s). A lot of guys got bored with ass-and-trash flights in the -60 jump over to the rescue wings in the air guard. Some went for the QOL that goes with having a commission in the AF, especially basing opportunities, but all had a college degree. None that I know switched to fixed wing, but I guess it is possible. I also imagine that now the army has lengthened its flight obligation to 10 years it happens a lot less.

It opens and closes at times.

I was exploring it to go toward the CV-22 at a time in my career where I could have gotten the Army to let me go, but the AF was closed to new people so ended up missing the wave to jump on.

I do know 2 Army pilots who went to AF fixed wing but both were guard. One ended up in Hawgs only to lose that ticket to RPAs, and the other went to a tanker squadron. They really didn’t do anything different than the average person rushing, they just had some extra proof on their record.

 

[ChuckMK23]

Nice video from the inside of a new R66.... (Operating in @Griz882 AO?)

 

[ChuckMK23]

Talk about longevity in an airframe. The Chinook soldiers on in production!

https://defence-blog.com/boeing-to-build-60-ch-47f-helicopters-for-germany

 

[Randy Daytona]

Talk about longevity in an airframe. The Chinook soldiers on in production!

https://defence-blog.com/boeing-to-build-60-ch-47f-helicopters-for-germany

Replacing older twin engine Sikorsky CH-53’s. The new 53K appears, at 88,000 lbs, to be just too big (and expensive) for most nations while the 55,000 lb Chinook seems to be right sized - and with a much larger support base.

Sikorsky is really having problems: S-76, S-92 and H-53 not selling well and the Blackhawk now being replaced by Bell’s tilt-rotor.

 

[ChuckMK23]

Replacing older twin engine Sikorsky CH-53’s. The new 53K appears, at 88,000 lbs, to be just too big (and expensive) for most nations while the 55,000 lb Chinook seems to be right sized - and with a much larger support base.

Sikorsky is really having problems: S-76, S-92 and H-53 not selling well and the Blackhawk now being replaced by Bell’s tilt-rotor.

Leonardo is eating everyone's lunch with respect to traditional helicopters.

 

[Griz882]

Replacing older twin engine Sikorsky CH-53’s. The new 53K appears, at 88,000 lbs, to be just too big (and expensive) for most nations while the 55,000 lb Chinook seems to be right sized - and with a much larger support base.

Sikorsky is really having problems: S-76, S-92 and H-53 not selling well and the Blackhawk now being replaced by Bell’s tilt-rotor.

Maybe they should pull something off the boards for a light turbine training helicopter?

 

[Randy Daytona]

Leonardo is eating everyone's lunch with respect to traditional helicopters.

Maybe in the medium twin segment with the AW-139, but I would wager Airbus is selling the most in the light twin / single market.

Norway just gave up on the NH90 and appears to be buying Blackhawks.

Norway’s Sorry NH90 Helicopter Saga Finally Comes To An End

Having extricated itself from a messy dispute with the manufacturer, Norway is the latest customer to turn its back on the troubled NH90. Having extricated itself from a messy dispute with the manufacturer, Norway is the latest customer to turn its back on the troubled NH90.

www.twz.com